Spaghetti ni Lalud

Spaghetti Ni 'La 'Lud 🎶 Sahara nights | F R David

Slovenia Feast

I took a trip a few months ago to Celje, Slovenia to visit my long-time friend Dey and her husband Simon. It was one of the best trips I made in Europe mainly because the Skets were very hospitable and is always willing to share their time to show me the culture and the food. They helped me try out a lot of dishes when I was in Celje, but I think for the most part, what I wouldn't forget is the trip to the museum and having a chance to know about Alma Karlin, who I now quote in my profile. But I digress.

When I travel, I don't start by pretending to know even the smallest thing about a place. It helps me keep an open-mind about the food, the language and the culture. I use the little knowledge that I have as a conversation starter instead with locals and other travellers, mainly to confirm or clarify what I know.

And this is what I've learned in Slovenia. If you are to feast in this place, I would suggest to travel the country with a local. Cliche I know, but for the most part, I think the food is prepared to be experienced with a group of friends or family. Take for example the Ajvar.

Ajvar Dip - this preserved dip consists of paprika, tomato, red carrots and pepperoni. It is mostly home made with ingredients grown organically and is served with meat. We ate this one afternoon when we visited the Sket's uncle and aunt in the suburbs. It can stand out on its own yet I find that the flavor complements all the meat that was served with it.

Flower Honey - Celje is also popular for their honey bee farms. After all it's also the best place to find a lot of variety of flowers, so it's not surprising to get most of their honeys from flower nectar. I saw some dew honeys as well but I think the best kind of honey is the flower honey because it's sweeter and more aromatic. I enjoyed mine by pouring the honey over my favorite strawberries (the sour kind) to balance the sourness of the fruit with the sweetness of the honey. Ready to serve!

Elderflower juice - I almost felt obsessed with this refreshing, sweet and fragrant drink. It's also very light and not as filling as sodas or other fruit juices which I usually hate (that's why I made it a habit to just drink after I finish eating my meal). With the elderflower, I can enjoy having a full meal with desserts with it without feeling bloated at the end.

Strukli - I'm pretty sure this is also a Croatian dish so I was surprised when I saw it in the Old Celje Castle. The Skets were talking about pancakes, so I pictured the American version. Well, it was a treat because it turned out to be this sweet little delicacy. I think it's the influence of the Croatian strukli and the Austrian strudel which gives it's unique personality.

Kremsnita - I have seen this vanilla and custard cream in puff pastry base cake both in Italy and Slovenia. But I think it's more popular in Croatia. Eating it reminds me of Brazo De Mercedes and that's why I kept missing the meringue. It's too sweet for me too and too filling and that's why I would have opted an extra reach for that chocolate swirl at the back if I wasn't too full with the Kremsnita.

Rukola salad - nothing is most simplest yet entertaining but the rukola salad. This one has all the right ingredients for me, the greens, the meat, the cheese but most of all the baby tomato on top. The combination reminds me of how something comfy can come up from simple things. A dash of pepper and an extra swing on the cheese and I can already imagine myself sitting in a reclining chair in front of the Boracay beach with lime juice at my left side and my trusty ipad on the other. Oh wait, I nudge myself. I'm still in Celje.

Pizza - oh my, my thigh. I remember that Friends episode where Christina Applegate guests as Rachel's sister Amy. One glance at the pizza and she said "one moment in your lips, forever in your hips!". Now everytime I see pizza, I remember this phrase. I think both pizzas below found their way to my hips. One has the over indulgence of melted cheese and the other the biggest effing cut of pepperoni. There were a lot of choices in the menu but these two top my lists.

Pljeskavica - last but not the list is the biggest patty I've ever seen. I think this is bigger than that New York New York Giant Yankee burger. I opted to not got with the bread and just eat the meat and the salad. Its very tasty and I think it is a mixture of a variety of meat, mainly pork and beef. I missed the ajvar with this one but having a spicy red sauce was also a good choice.

Everything here is meant to be shared with friends and family as I mentioned earlier but in a hindsight, your adventure can start by being able to share them as well with other travellers. Most of the people I met would always opt for the simplest dish, a breath of fresh air for me coming from places where fusion is always the main theme. In the end, it's the dish coupled by intimate conversations that makes the hearty, satisfying meal.

3 Quick Fix for Stress



 Some would go to a tranquil place...

Some would go to a bar...

Some just sleep...

I always go for a food trip.

A trip in Balestier Bak Kut Teh in Ion Mall is top on my list. I pair up a spare rib soup with lime juice but it will not be complete with that dark sweet and spicy soya. How to eat:

1) Slurp the soup

2) Grab a piece of the rib

3) Dunk in the spicy, sweet soya

4) Eat

5) Drink Lime

6) Repeat 'til you run out of the ribs.

On a very bad day, I would add rice and boiled peanuts with my order. The soup though is really enough to calm you down.

I do sometimes ran out of room for the pork ribs, so a great alternative for me is BonChon chicken. Previously a secret to the world, I guess the long lines in Ion Mall has confirmed the revelation. I do always go for the drumsticks since I hate wings. And then I go with the hot sauce because its fun to get a hot and crunchy bite. Lastly, I need soda. No juices. Its not fair to the chicken.

When all is done and I still want some pick-me-ups, I go to the Candylicious shop in Takashimaya and pick up my favorite Hershey dark chocolate, the extra something-something mints and most of all the sparx popping candy. Of all three, it's the popping candy that wakes the little kid in me. Once the candies are popping in my mouth, it takes me back to my childhood, when days are spent with a trip to the sari-sari store and have a pick of candies in the jar. Just for a moment, I can see myself looking at those jars, making a simple decision of choosing that popping candy and be amazed of how little fireworks seem to pop in my mouth.

Kalderetang Itik

 One rainy day calls for something like this - Kalderetang Itik (Duck Stew). Our neighbor Aling Beth cooks the best itik in Bagong Ilog. In fact, her shop is famously know as "Kalderetang Itik ng Bagong Ilog" which you can also find in Facebook. Ironically, it is not stewed in tomato sauce, much like all other Kaldereta dishes are cooked but is just stewed with a lot of spices. Paired with mayo and rice, it's sinful yet you'll find yourself negotiating with the Almighty just to have a few moments to spend with this dish. I'll definitely will mellow down with this for a bit if I can... or at least just try to drop the mayo.

Revolving Restaurant.... Sakay Na!

Na-convinced ko ang ilang friends to try Prima Tower one night last week

Dalawa actually ang alam kong revolving restaurant dito sa SG. Isa sa Mandarin, Orchard area, where they serve french cuisine and then Prima Tower where they serve beijing cuisine. Fine dining pareho.

Maganda sana pumunta sa original, yung sa Meritus Mandarin, at mas attractive sa kin ang view ng city kesa sentosa. Kaya lang madalas na kami sa Orchard. Plus, papunta kami ng Paris this November.

At hindi ako mahilig sa french fries.

corny.

So I decided to invite friends sa Prima Tower. After making sure na lahat ay available for dinner, I called to make reservations, which I usually do sa mga ganitong restaurant. Although, it was not a weekend day, you'll never know in Singapore. Adventuring on food kasi mostly ang libangan ng tao dito.

From making reservations pa lang though, Prima Tower is a refreshing find na dahil very friendly ang staff. Bihira yan dito. They treat both local and foreigners well. At very efficient. Kudos to Ivy who gave me a warm hello and a nice table.

So evening came, I said to Ivy na we'll be coming around 8ish. Pero mahirap ang access sa lugar nila kung wala kang kotse. Katulad ng mga known chinese resto dito, me pagkaweird ang location ng Prima Tower. After Harbourfront mrt station, kelangan mo pang tawirin ang dalawang building - Vivocity Mall & Power Grid - bago makarating sa kanila.

Pag nakita mo na yung lugar, parang abandoned warehouse ang itsura nito. Pero sabel, ang mga kotseng nakaparada, jaguar at mustang. Ang gwagwapo.

Pagpasok mo sa restaurant, may isang aquarium na bubungad sa yo. 24 by 24 inches ata ang laki. Malalaki din ang isda, pero dahil ignoramus ako pagdating sa isda, ndi ko masasabi senyo kung anong klase. Ndi na rin ako masyadong tumitig dahil me pagkaguilty ang feeling ko sa kanila.

Balak ko kasi mag-sea bass, wehehehe.

Biro na nga ng isang 'igan ko, isa sa mga isda dun ang kakainin namin.

Wag naman.

Dalawang access lift ang napuna ko dito for the guests. Dalawang floor din lang ang pede mong puntahan, the first floor and nineth floor. Paglabas mo ng nineth, aakyat ka pa via escalator ng isang floor. At tapos nun isang paikot na staircase.

Nahilo na kami bago pa man makarating sa kakainan.

Pero pagdating naman sa taas, I just mentioned my name, at kahit late kaming dumating, accommodating pa rin ang staff. Manager pa ata yung nag-asikaso sa min. Galing.

Specialty nila ang Peking Duck at Shredded scallops. Kaso ndi to trip ng mga 'igan ko. Instead we opted for king prawns in chili sauce, steamed seabass (told you!), chopsuey rice, honey baked ham with buns and fried porkchops.
Isa-isa itong sinerve sa min. Kung mahilig kang magsabay ng rice sa food mo, medyo ito lang ang magiging downside for you dahil they don't serve it kaagad. Pero palagay ko pwede mong irequest pag order. Ndi ko na naisip ito dahil sa bawat lagay ng pagkain sa plato ko nalilimutan ko na lahat sa sarap. Daig ang jollibee!

Oo nga pala, just like in any fine dining restaurant, sineserve ang food ng staff right from the main bowl to the plate dito. Para kang prinsesa/prinsipe. Ngunguya ka na lang.

Humabol pa kami ng order ng chrysanthemum tea during the course. Sineserve ito by teapot. Dito lang ako nakatikim ng ganitong klase ng tea na masarap. Sa ibang nakainan ko na, ndi ako nasarapan sa chrysanthemum tea. Pero dito, mabango at matapang sya. I always go for strong tea flavors.

The view from the restaurant is just so-so. Mas maganda talaga sa City, with the lights and all. Karamihan pa ng building sa lugar ay ginagawa, including Sentosa (which by the way will have Universal Studios na in a few years) and Vivocity.

At ganun pala sabel ang revolving restaurant ano, minsan medyo nakakaliyo. Nung una, ndi mabilis ang ikot, pero pagkaupo namin biglang bumilis. Nakasakay na kasi lahat... parang merry-go-round.

All in all, it was a wonderful evening. Magandang adventure, kakaiba. You have to go there na me mga kasamang ndi nagmamadali at magaang pakisamahan. I enjoyed it because, bukod sa nice ambience & food, nothing beats choosing to bring good company. At ganun nga, walang tigil na kwentuhan at katatawanan ang nangyari.

You'll definitely go back for the food, more than anything else. Plus, Vivocity is just two-blocks away. May G-A-P na dito sa wakas! Golden Village Movie theatres inside Vivocity, I heard, is also phenomenal. Eto na ata ang magiging kalaban ng Cathay Cineplex.

So, you can go shopping, watch a movie or wonder around Sentosa then go to Prima Tower to end your day enjoying a nice dinner and a view of the sea.

Whapak!

Today's Firsts

Ang daming firsts na nangyari today sa kin. Most notably ay tatlong bagay:
nakita ko si Arnold Clavio.

ooppss... hindi naman ako masyado excited...

nasa likod nya kami... napakalabit sa kin yung kasama kong nakakita sa kanya. Kilala nya si A.C. by face only, kaya nasabi na lang nya sa kin na, "uuuyy newscaster yun ng channel 7 sa atin". Ndi ko sya nakita agad until a woman caught my eye na kinakausap nya. Nung napalingon sya sa likod saka ko lang sya nakilala.

at syempre napatigil ako sa paglakad... at tanging nasabi ko na lang ay "grabeh! nastarstruck ako!". 😛 Naglalakad na si Arnold nun ng bigla syang napalingon uli dahil sa narinig sa kin. Nangiti na lang ako sa kanya. Mukha ring nagmamadali na sila kaya hindi na kami nangistorbo. Mukha namang friendly sya though, na kahit gusto pa rin nyang huminto medyo hatak na sya ng kanyang kasama.


Sunod... punta kaming Bar None para kumuha ng tickets for the Bamboo gig.
6pm kami nakarating kaya sarado pa.
First time ko sa Marriot and Bar None. Usually nasa lobby lang kami or sa labas, sa may Tang's Mall. The receptionist gave us directions on how to go to the basement where Bar None is. Bumalik na lang kami ng 7pm to buy the tickets. Kita ko ang poster ng Bamboo gig. kilig.





and last.... Pepper Lunch fast steak! Swak na swak sa sarap. Medyo mahaba ang pila kaya nagworry rin kami ng kaunti kung magtatagal bago kami makakain. Iseserve na medyo raw ang steak, sa isang hot plate, so ikaw ang kelangan maghalo ng steak, veggies and sauce.Nasa yo kung gusto mo ay raw or well done.

Thank You by Oprah

Forwarded by a friend... really love Oprah...

Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, forthis is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1Thes 5:16-18)
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THANK YOU By Oprah Winfrey
I live in the space of thankfulness - and I have been rewarded a million times over for it. I started out giving thanks for small things,and the more thankful I became, the more my bounty increased.

That's because what you focus on expands, and when you focus on thegoodness in your life, you create more of it. Opportunities, relationships,even money flowed my way when I learned to be grateful no matter what happened in my life.

"Say thank you!" Those words from my friend and mentor Maya Angelou turned my life around. One day about ten years ago, I was sitting in my bathroom with the door closed and the toilet lid down, booing and ahooing on the phone so uncontrollably that I was incoherent. "Stop it! Stop it right now and say thank you!" Maya chided. "But - you don't understand," I sobbed. To this day, I can't remember what it was that had me so far gone,which only proves the point Maya was trying to make. "I do understand," shetold me. "I want to hear you say it now. Out loud. 'Thank you.'

"Tentatively, I repeated it:
"Thank you - but what am I saying thank you for?"

"You're saying thank you," Maya said, "because your faith is so strong that you don't doubt that whatever the problem, you'll get through it.You're saying thank you because you know that even in the eye of the storm,God has put a rainbow in the clouds. You're saying thank you because you know there's no problem created that can compare to the Creator of all things. Say thank you!"

So I did - and still do. Only now I do it every day.

I kept a gratitude journal, as Sarah Ban Breathnach suggests in SimpleAbundance, listing at least five things that I'm grateful for. My list includes small pleasures: the feel of Kentucky bluegrass under my feet(like damp silk); a walk in the woods with all nine of my dogs and mycocker spaniel Sophie trying to keep up; cooking fried green tomatoes with Stedman and eating them while they're hot; reading a good book and knowing another awaits.

My thank-you list also includes things too important to take for granted: an "okay" mammogram, friends who love me, 15 years at the same job(and loving it more than the first day I started), a chance to share myvision for a better life, staying centered, having financial security. Iwon't kid you, having money for all the things I want is a blessing. But asI look back over my journals, which I've kept since I was 15 years old, 99 per cent of what brought me real joy had nothing to do with money . (It had a lot to do with food,however.)

It's not easy being grateful all the time. But it's when you feel least thankful that you are most in need of what gratitude can give you:PERSPECTIVE. Just knowing you have that daily list to complete allows you to look at your day differently, with an awareness of every sweet gesture and kind thought passed your way. When you learn to say thank you, you see the world anew. And as Meister Eckhart so eloquently stated:

"If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is a Thank you, that would suffice."

Here's a link to the Thank You episode: http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/tows_past_20011119.jhtml

The Invitation by Oriah

It doesn't interest me what you do for a living.

I want to know what you ache for and if you dare to dream of meeting your heart's
longing.

It doesn't interest me how old you are.

I want to know if you will
risk looking like a foolfor lovefor your dreamfor the adventure of being
alive.

It doesn't interest me what planets are squaring your moon...I want to
know if you have touched the centre of your own sorrow if you have been opened by
life's betrayals or have become shrivelled and closed from fear of further
pain.

I want to know if you can sit with pain

mine or your own

without moving
to hide it

or fade it

or fix it.

I want to know if you can be with joy

mine or
your own

if you can dance with wildness

and let the ecstasy fill you to the tips
of your fingers and toes

without cautioning us to

be careful

be realistic

remember
the limitations of being human.
It doesn't interest me if the story you are
telling me is true.I want to know if you can disappoint another to be true to
yourself.If you can bear the accusation of betrayal

and not betray your own
soul.If you can be faithless

and therefore trustworthy.
I want to know if you
can see Beauty

even when it is not pretty

every day.And if you can source your own
life from its presence.
I want to know if you can live with failure

yours and
mine

and still stand at the edge of the lake

and shout to the silver of the full
moon,"Yes."
It doesn't interest me

to know where you live or how much money
you have.I want to know if you can get up

after the night of grief and
despair

weary and bruised to the bone

and do what needs to be done

to feed the
children.
It doesn't interest me who you know

or how you came to be here.I
want to know if you will standin the centre of the fire

with me

and not shrink
back.
It doesn't interest me where or what or with whom

you have studied.I
want to know what sustains you

from the inside

when all else falls away.
I want
to know if you can be alone with yourself

and if you truly like the company you
keepin the empty moments.